Week 3 stats and trends: plenty of playoff hope for 0-2 teams

MARATHON NOT SPRINT: History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 22 teams started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason.

The 1993 Dallas Cowboys started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XXVIII. The 0-2 New England Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI. Most recently, the 2007 New York Giants started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XLII.

0-2 teams to qualify for the playoffs (since 1990)

YEAR

TEAM

WINLESS START

ADVANCED TO:

1990

Houston Oilers

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

New Orleans Saints

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

1991

Atlanta Falcons

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

1992

San Diego Chargers

0-4

Divisional Playoffs

1993

Pittsburgh Steelers

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

Dallas Cowboys

0-2

Won Super Bowl XXVIII

1994

New England Patriots

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

1995

Detroit Lions

0-3

Wild Card Playoffs

1996

New England Patriots

0-2

Lost Super Bowl XXXI

1998

Arizona Cardinals

0-2

Divisional Playoffs

Buffalo Bills

0-3

Wild Card Playoffs

New York Jets

0-2

Championship Game

2001

New England Patriots

0-2

Won Super Bowl XXXVI

2002

Atlanta Falcons

0-2

Divisional Playoffs

Pittsburgh Steelers

0-2

Divisional Playoffs

2003

Philadelphia Eagles

0-2

Championship Game

2006

Kansas City Chiefs

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

2007

New York Giants

0-2

Won Super Bowl XLII

2008

Miami Dolphins

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

Minnesota Vikings

0-2

Wild Card Playoffs

San Diego Chargers

0-2

Divisional Playoffs

THAT WAS CLOSE: In the NFL, there is little room for error. One play can mean the difference between winning and losing, as games are often decided by the slimmest of margins – especially in 2010.

Close games have been a theme for the league after the first two weeks of play. In fact, 19 of the 32 games (59.4%) have been decided by seven points or fewer, the most at this point of the season in NFL history.

With some excellent matchups slated for Week 3, games should continue to be thisclose. If seven games are decided by seven-or-fewer points this weekend, the 2010 season will feature the most ever seven-points-or-fewer games through the first three weeks, topping the 1988 season, which had 26 such games.

ELITE COMPANY: New York Jets running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON has recorded 180 scrimmage yards (138 rushing, 42 receiving) in the first two games of the season, upping his career totals to 12,628 rushing yards and 3,997 receiving yards.

This Sunday against Miami, Tomlinson needs three receiving yards to become the fifth player in NFL annals to record 12,000 rushing yards & 4,000 receiving yards.

Players with 12,000 rushing yards and 4,000 receiving yards

RUSH YARDS

REC. YARDS

SCRIMMAGE YARDS

Walter Payton

Bears

16,726

4,538

21,264

Marshall Faulk

Colts, Rams

12,279

6,875

19,154

Marcus Allen

Raiders, Chiefs

12,243

5,411

17,654

Thurman Thomas

Bills, Dolphins

12,074

4,458

16,532

LaDainian Tomlinson*

Chargers, Jets

12,628

3,997

16,625

* active player

BEST IN SHOW: Last week, Detroit Lions running back JAHVID BEST became the first rookie in NFL history with at least 75 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game. In his first two games, Best has amassed 268 yards from scrimmage (98 rush, 170 receiving) and leads the NFL with five touchdowns (four rush, one receiving).

With two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, Best would become the first player in NFL history to record seven touchdowns in his first three career games.

Players with six touchdowns through first three games of their careers

TDs, FIRST TWO GAMES

TDs, FIRST THREE GAMES

Dutch Sternaman

Bears

6

6

Billy Sims

Lions

5

6

Jahvid Best, Lions*

Lions

5

???

* active player

OPEN THE GATES: Through the first two games of the 2010 season, San Diego Chargers tight end ANTONIO GATES has 10 receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns, tied for first in the AFC.

Gates, who has 62 career receiving touchdowns, needs one touchdown catch this week to surpass SHANNON SHARPE for second-most touchdown receptions by a tight end in NFL history. Atlanta Falcons tight end TONY GONZALEZ ranks first with 82.